Clothes-washing apparatus



May 29, 1928. 1,671,380

Q. SANTJCOLA CLOTHES WASHING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1927 a 2 32 13 I 12 6 8 7 13 3a 5 2s 29 l 3o so 31 31 3 6 o 2 3 Z5 Z8 9 l9 9 1 10 14 10 INVENTOR. -QM

/ ATTOR v Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

QUENTIN SANTICOLA, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO FRANK CHIRCOSTA, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOTHES-WASHING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 27, 1927. Serial No. 201,600.

My invention relates to a clothes washing apparatus, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a washing apparatus of the character described, which is power driven, to thoroughly clean excessively soiled garments by a rubbing action.

"Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated which issimplc in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and eflicient in its use, automatically adjustable, compact, and comparatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com-- bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of eonstrlu'ztion hereinafter described, and claimed, it be'iiig ululcrstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts thr ughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of a washing apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line.

III-IIL Fig. 1. v

efcrring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a. rectangularly shaped metallic casing which is open at its top. A Slilpl'io'lljllig bar 2 connected, in a suitable bearing 3, adjacent toeach end of the casing side walls 4 and adjacent to the top edge of the latter. Each of the supporting bars 2 is connected to its associated bearing 3, atthe approximate center of its length and is disposed on the inner side of respective casing side walls l. i

The supporting bars 2 are mounted for oscillatorynnovement in the casing 1 and carry a horizontally disposed lower rubbing plate 5 and acorrespondingly disposed upper rubbing plate 6, the latter being arranged directly over the lower rubbing plate 5. The lower rubbing plate 5 is pro vided with a transversely corrugated top 7 and the upper rubbing plate 6 is formed bars 2.

wit-h a similar transversely corrugated bottom 8.

The forward end of each side of the lower rubbing plate 5 is provided with a fixed, and substantially L-shaped depending hearing bracket 9, which is pivotally connected, at its lower end, as at 10, to the lower end portion of respective supporting bars 2.

The forward end of each side of the upper rubbing plate 6 is provided with a fixed, apertured bearing lug 11. The latter is piv otally connected toan inwardly disposed pivoting pin 12 which is'fixed in a slide block 13, mounted for vertical movement on the top portion of respective supporting This arrangement permits of the convenient removal of the upper rubbing plate (5 when required.

The connection of the lower and upper rubbing plates 5 and 6, with the supporting bars 2, in the manner herein stated, is such that the oscillatory movement of the latter will impart a reciprocatory movement to the lower and upper rubbing plates 5 and 6. As the lower and upper rubbing plates 5 and 6 are respectively attached below and above the pivotal connecting bearings 23, of the supporting bars 2, the reciprocating movement of the rubbing plates 5 and 6 will always be in opposite directions relatively to each other.

The lower ends of the supporting bars 2, disposed adjacent to the forward end of the casing l, are connected by a transversely exteiuliiig crossrod 14, and the lower ends of the supporting bars 2, disposed adjacent to the rear end of the casing 1 are likewise joined by a transversely extending crossrod 15. A connecting rod 16 is pivotally connected, at its respective ends, to the crossrods 14: and 15 preferably centrally of the length of the latter.

The cross-rod 14 is pivotally connected, as at 17. to the rear end of an actuating rod 18. The latter is eccent-rically and pivotally connected to the worm gear 19. The worm gear 19 is driven by a worm 20, loosely mounted on the shaft 21 of the driving mo tor 22. A clutch 23 is mounted on the m0- tor shaft 21 and is operable to engage or disengage the worm 20, to permit of the control nected, as at 25, and is provided with a latch and handle 27;. The door 2A constitutes a rubbing portion of. the upper rubbing plate 6 and is provided for facilitating the positioning of the clothes between the lower and upper rubbing plates 5 and 6, previous to the rubbing operation. I

. An elevating handle 28 extends along each sidewall ot the casing I and is carried at the lower end of a pair of elevating levers 29 which are pivotally connected centrall of their lengths, as at 30, to the brac :ets '31, fixed to respective ends of the casing side walls 4.. The upper ends of the elevating levers 29" abut against the under side of respective horizontally disposed plates 32', one of which is fixed to and projects outwardly from each of the sliding blocks 13. The manual depression of the elevating handles 28 will slide the blocks 13 upwardly, thereby elevating the upper rubbing plate 6, which is connected to the latter. lVhen the elevating levers 29 are in the elevating position, their engagement. with the plates 32 will cause them to maintain the upper rubbing plate 6 in the elevated position. The manual release of the elevating levers 29 will cause the upper rubbing. plate 6 to return from its elevated position by gravity. v

Each corner of the upper rubbing plate top carries a hired, vertlcall'y disposed pin 33, for engaging removably mounted, apertured weightdisks 34;. The latter are provided to supply the necessary weight to the upper rubbing plate 6 to. properly effect the rubbing operation.

The motor 22 is suitably housed above the level of the casing bottom to prevent possibility of the former contacting with the drippings resultant from the rubbing operation. The casing 1 is provided with a drainv cook 35 to. drain all drippings which normally accumulate in the casing 1'.

The clothes to be cleaned are spread on the corrugated top of the lower rubbing plate 5.-

This is accomplished by depressing the ele vating handles 28 to elevate the. upper rub bing plate'6 and by opening the door 24. The clothes to be rubbed are, of course, first thoroughly soaked and soaped to facilitate the cleaning thereof. After the clothes have been spread upon the top of the lower rubbing plate 5, the upper rubbing plate 6' isreleased to rest directly on the top of the clothes. Tofthe weight. of the'upper rubbingplate 6' it seli is added an additional number of Weight" dislts 34 to establish the proper pressure to best effect the cleansing of the clothes by the rubbing operation. The motor 22 is now started, or if already running, the clutch 23 is shifted to engage the worm 20. The operation of the latter will cause the reciprocation of the rubbing plates 5' and 6, in opposite directions, relatively to each other, thoroughly cleansing the clothes from soil thatean. only heremoved from the latter by a rubbing action.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of horizontally disposed rubbing plates, a support for said pair of rubbing plates, andmeans for imparting a 'reciprocatory movement to said pair of rubbing plates, one of said pair of rubbing plates being vertically shiftable on said support.

2. A washing apparatus of the character described comprising a. pair of horizontally disposed rubbing plates, a support for said. pair of rubbing plates, means' for impartin a reciprocatory movement to said pair 0 rubbing plates, one of said pair of rubbin plates being" vertically shiftable on" said support, one ofsaid pair of rubbing tes arranged directly above the other or said pair of rubbing plates. and provided with an enlarged opening, and a door for closing said opening.

3.. A washing apparatus of the character described comprising a, pair of horizontally disposed rubbing plates, a sup ort' for said! pair of rubbing plates, means 1: imparting a reciprocatory' movement to said pair 0 rubbing plates, one of said 'r' of rubbing plates being vertically 'shi ita 1e on said port, the opposed faces of said pair ofru ing plates being formed with transversely extending corrugations.

4. A washing apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of horizontally disposed rubbing plates, :1 support for said pair of rubbing plates, means for imparting a reciprocatory movement to said. pair 0 rubbing plates, one of said pair of rubbing plates being vertically shifta l'e on saidsupport,one of said pair of rubbing plates arranged directly above the other of said pair of rubbing" plates and provided with anen larged opening, a door for closing said opening, the opposed faces of. saidpair: 0t rubbing plates being formed" with transversely extending corrugations.

5'. In combination, a washing apparatus of the character described comprisin a pair of horizontally disposed rubbing; p ates, a support for said pair of' rubbing plates, one of said pair. ofrubbing lates' arranged directly above the other oi said pair of rubbing plates, means. for imparting a reciprocating. movement to. said pair of rubbing plates in opposite directions relatively to each other, the upper of. said air off rnbbing" plates beingvertically 'iftable on said support, said upper rubbing plate further formed with an enlarged opening,.

means for elevating said upper rubbing plate on said support, and for maintaining said upper rubbing plate in the elevated position, the opposed faces of said pair of rubbing plates being formed with transversely extending corrugations, and weight elements reniovably supported on the said upper rubbing plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

QUENTIN SANTIGOLA. 

